Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-03

reports have reached Chicago of the law
less proceedings OF a band of masked
men, who, it was said, were raiding
Crawford, Harrison and Orange counties,
in the southern part OF Indiana, dragging
citizens from their beds, and, under cover
of the night, tying them to trees and fog
ging them within an inch of their lives.
So many outrages OF this kind have &C.
CURED recently that reporter was de-
tailed TO visit the lawless region and get
at the inside facts.
The last midnight whipping occurred
at MarengO, village of less than 500 In
habitants, that spreads over good deal
of territory in the northwest corner of
Crawford county. Among the most per-
ststent saloon patrons in MarengO is Joe
Williams, big, powerful fellow. Will
liams was the last person whom the regu-
latOrs visited. He was formerly farmer
in the southern part Of the county, but
sold his farm year ago, and has since
devoted his entire time to getting drunk
and squandering his money. Recently he
brought his family to Marengo and put
them in small shauty of two rooms.
Nearly every day he got drunk, and his
wife and three children might have
starved had she not managed to secrete a
small amount of money before he could
run through with the entire proceeds of
the farm.
Several times he received anonymous
letters warning him to go to work and
provide for his family, but he laughed at
them. One day last week he found the
money that his wife had hid away, and
went TO neighboring village, where he
spent it in u drunken carousal. When
the last cent was squandered he re-
turned home, begged forgiveness and
promised bis wife that he would never
touch another drop.
That night, when all were fast asleep
ten masked men went quietly up to the
shanty and burst in the front door with a
scantling. Williams jumped from his bed
and planted his fists squarely in the face
of the first man who entered. An instant
later be was overpOwered and was
dragged out OF doors, across the railroad
track and up the hill, his prosecutors
pounding him with sticks and stones a.
every step. The night was very cold.
and the cutting north wind that whistled
across the bottoms made his sufferings
more intense, for be had nothing on but
his underclothlng, and this was torn from
his body as he was dragged over the ice
and snow.
Back of the depot big walnut tree
grows on steep hill. 1t has become
famous in the village as the regulation
whipping post. TO this tree the strug-
CLING man was quickly dragged. Four
powerful men twisted his arms around
the trunk and held him fast. This Is
called hugging the tree. When these
preparations were completed a big man,
who was addressed by the leader as mo.
~ stepped out from the circle with a
bunch of hickory switches in his hand.
Each Of these switches was about four
feet in length, about the size OF mans
finger at the little end, and about two
inches in diameter at the butt.
mo. l" selected a switch, raised it in
the air, and then brought it down with all
his might upon the back OF the victim.
Williams shrieked in vain for mercy, and
his piercing cries resOunded throughout
the neighDorhood. Many persons stood
at their windows and witnessed the tor
lures to which the agoniZed wretch was
subjected, but no one dared 10 interfere.
Blow after blow was rained down upon
his naked body, each cutting deep into
the flesh and drawing streams Of blood.
when mo. u became exhausted, "No.
90 took his place, and so on until the VIC
tim swooned. Then he was released and
left senseless on The hillside. the f1oggers
moving away and disappearing in the
darkness. Williams wife witnessed the
whipping, and as soon as she thought it
safe went to her husband, restored him
to consciousness, and helped him back
home. He has not been out of the house
since.
A few nights before Williams was
whipped the regulators gave William II.
Trotter an unmercIful fOgging at the
same tree. TrOtter once owned a farm
in the county, but sold it two years ago,
and moved to MarengO with his wife and
three children. He is a carpenter by
trade. and built himself house, which
he sold before it was completed, and in
vested the money in drug store, which
is there another name for rum shop.
For while he prOspered, but soon got to
drinking heavily, and finally became a
confirmed opium eater. Mrs. Trotter has
done washing for her neighbors, and some
of the more charitable ones have sent in
provisions for herself and the children.
Two weeks ego TrOtter got a chance to
sell the house, and tried to force his wife
to consent. She refused, and after abus-
ing her cruelty he picked up his clothing
and went to the depot, intending TO take
the night train for st. Louis.
Heidi not gets chance. a few minutes
before the train was due body of masked
men entered the depot, seized TrOtter and
dragged him to tree, wnen they gave him
seventy-fve lashes. His punishment was
not so severe, as his clothing was not re-
moved, but it was sufficient to cause him
to turn back home. He is now at work,
stopped drinking, but that he has sud-
denly become greatly attached to his fam
lily, treating them with marked kindness
and affection. She has great hopes for
the future. The next day the reporter
visited Leavenworth, the county seat,
Tasewell, Midtown and RIceville, all
small villages in the vicinity OF Marengo.
Each one OF them has been frequently
visited by the whip-ups, and many of their
citizens are wearing the marks received
while hugging tree.
The regulators, who call themselves
White Caps, came into existence about
twelve years ago. No one appears to
know who they are, and few have sui
6cient courage to find out. Curious per-
sons have been severely punished for try
ing TO penetrate the mysteries Of this
secret organization. Some years ago the
Governor offered a reward Of $1,000 FOR
the arrest and conviction of the White
Cape. Stimulated by the offer, detectives
went prying about the country, but after
several of them had been made to hug a
tree they gave up the search. So far as
known only one member OF the organiza-
tlon was ever identified, and that was not
until after he was killed. That was IN
Harrison county, about Elk years ago.
About four years ago Mrs. Ann While,
the wife Of a farmer, was terribly flogged
Sue was confined to her bed for several